Confused about Harware vs Software encoder

[marche]

I'm looking into buying a capture card to transfer my VHS tapes to DVD for home use. However, I am not sure regarding the pro's and cons of going for a hardware vs software encoder capture card.

1. I may have read that if I buy a hardware encoder (ex: MPEG2) then I can only encode into that video stream (I cant encode into Divx/Xvid, or I would need to encode it from the MPEG2). If this is the case, then I would lose flexibility in terms of using my capture card (maybe I want to encode some into DVD(MPEG2) and some into Divx, etc)

2. If I go for software encoder (in light of #1), how long do you think to software encode a 2 hour DVD to fit into 4GB DVD disk? I have a AMD Athlon 64 X2 2.2Ghz 2GB ram with standard 7200rpm SATA disk drives. Because if it would take a Loooong time then I think it would be better to go for a hardware encoder (I have to convert several tapes)

Any help would be greatly appreciated! I tried going through the forums and the stickys but it doesnt quite seem to answer my question (esp #1)

[filmboss80]

Yes, encoding can take a long time. The time varies, depending on: constant vs. variable bitrate, one-pass encoding vs. two-pass (to maintain a specific quality at a specific file size), etc. I often let the computer encode while I am away from it -- like overnight.

Here are some issues to consider:
1. Do you want to extensively edit the footage? MPEG2 and Divx/Xvid are designed for playback (Divx/Xvid especially) and can be tricky to edit.
2. You can encode Divx/Xvid from MPEG2, quite easily in fact. Check the Tools section.

Anytime there is video encoding going on, there are time concerns. A hardware encoder is always faster than a software encoder, but it is also more expensive. Only you can decide whether you have more money than patience.

Mabuhay.

[tinker]

You have few different option. Yo can get external box, Pinnacle has one, you can get analogue to digital converter box with firewire output or you can use digital movie camera as converter, if it has that feature (that's what I use).
If you import as DV-AVI, the file will be about 30-40 GB in size and editable in any editing software.
I think Pinnacle box is also mpeg2 export, not sure.
You may also have to get what is called "Video Stabilizer" to get rid of protection on VHS tapes.
If you are converting from DV-AVI, it will take few hours, I usualy let it run overnight. It takes longer if you have only one hard drive.

[guns1inger]

If you use a dedicated hardware capture card you take all the encoding away from the CPU, but you limit your options when it comes to formats. Most cards are based around mpeg-2 hardware, which is fine if you are capturing for DVD. However if you need the video in different formats then you will have to re-encode it, and mpeg-2 suffers from quality drops very quickly if you recompress it too much.

Software encoding is primarily CPU bound. There are incremental improvements to be made by using faster drives, and using different physical drives for source and target, but the CPU does the bulk of the work.

Define "a long time". On my base level (E6600) quad core, DVD Rebuilder using HCEnc can complete re-encode a 2 hour movie in under an hour. I use AutoGK to convert mpeg-2 digital broadcast streams to Divx AVI, and average around 8 minutes per 30 minutes of footage for a single pass quality based encode. Compared to the old days of 5 - 7 hours per DVD, this is more than acceptable. Worst case I set it going overnight and push through 6 - 8 hours of footage at a time.

You also seem to be assuming it will take a long time - have you actually run some tests to see just how long it does take ?

Also, remember that the quality of a single pass hardware capture will rarely be as good as capturing to a higher quality format and then doing a two-pass variable bitrate encoding later. Also, if you intend to edit the footage, mpeg-2 is more difficult to edit, more prone to quality loss, and gives you fewer editing options than something like DV or lossless compression schemes.

[lordsmurf]

Also, remember that the quality of a single pass hardware capture will rarely be as good as capturing to a higher quality format and then doing a two-pass variable bitrate encoding later.

That completely depends on the hardware in question. I have a hardware-based setup that would easily fool most people trying to tell the difference. Most times, those who guessed right were doing just that -- guessing. It was hard to see the difference.

But you have to pay for such equipment. It's not sold at Best Buy.

[marche]

Regarding the hardware in question, if I do opt for a hardware encoder it would around the range of $100-$200.

So to answer my question to #1, if I opt for a hardware encoder, I cant select "uncompressed" when I encode? It always have to be to MPEG?

That is a good idea, I can try to encode to see how long it would take for an acceptable quality encode.

I wont be probably editing the videos and yes I know that MPEG is a pain to edit (I was so frustrated as to why I had problems with audio sync, it turns out that MPEG is really not for editing)

[SHS]

I cant select "uncompressed" when I encode? It always have to be to MPEG?

That rigth but that dose depend on hardware device you get

guns1inger

Define "a long time". On my base level (E6600) quad core, DVD Rebuilder using HCEnc can complete re-encode a 2 hour movie in under an hour. I use AutoGK to convert mpeg-2 digital broadcast streams to Divx AVI, and average around 8 minutes per 30 minutes of footage for a single pass quality based encode

Hardware MPEG/H.264 Encoder or Direct Digital Broadcast Streams still win's in Realtime vs Software and you ref to Transcoding which is diff ball game and the faster your processors is and more processors core you have helps but do keep in mind that if wasn't for SSE instructions you encoding time would be way high then it is now.
Now days most people are moving to AVC/H.264 480i, 480p, 720p or 1080i recoding.

I wont be probably editing the videos and yes I know that MPEG is a pain to edit (I was so frustrated as to why I had problems with audio sync, it turns out that MPEG is really not for editing)

You need the rigth tools for job best MPEG Editor are Womble Video Wizard DVD, Womble MPEG-VCR or VideoReDo which are most accurate editing tools for cut, copy, paste, and saveing.
Most of the time audio sync problem are usly cause by the bad source input like very old tape's it was recorded in long rec mode like LP or EP mode.

As lordsmurf said "That completely depends on the hardware in question." there are ton options

A hardware encoder is always faster than a software encoder, but it is also more expensive

A hardware encoder are not more expensive that all depend at frist there more expensive becuases if want edited the video then you need a good tools to go with it.
But in most cases let say you no plans to not edit then all need is lets a WinTV-HVR-1600 PCI or 1800 PCIe it comes ever things to create your own home videos on DVD.
And as a bouns you can turn your PC in to PVR or DVR (TiVo/Replay) which allow you to record Analog, ATSC digital and ClearCable QAM digital and there is one other option and that is component video recoding but then you need look at the Hauppauge HD PVR is the first High-Definition video recorder for making real-time H.264 compressed recordings at resolutions up to 1080i and yes it more expensive.